Fig. 2.

MiR-140-5p knockdown enhanced SACC-83 and SACC-LM cell proliferation, invasion and inhibited apoptosis, accelerated in vivo tumor growth. a qRT-PCR determined miR-140-5p expression levels in SACC-83 and SACC-LM cells after being transfected with inhibitors NC or miR-140-5p inhibitors (n = 3). b, c CCK-8 assay, d colony formation assay, e transwell invasion assay respectively determined cell proliferation, growth and invasion of SACC-83 and SACC-LM cells after being transfected with inhibitors NC or miR-140-5p inhibitors. f Flow cytometry and g caspase-3 activity assay respectively determine cell apoptotic rates and caspase-3 activity of SACC-83 and SACC-LM cells after being transfected with inhibitors NC or miR-140-5p inhibitors (n = 3). h In vivo tumor growth and i tumor weight from the xenograft nude mice inoculated with control SACC-LM cells or SACC-LM cells with miR-140-5p silencing (n = 5). Significant difference between treatment groups were indicated as *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001